India / AAP to contest UP elections in 2022: Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party will contest the state elections in Uttar Pradesh in 2022, the party's chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said today. Attacking the rival parties, Mr Kejriwal said the AAP - if elected to power - will form a corruption-free government in the neighbouring state, adding it has lived up to its promise in the national capital.

As the AAP makes steady efforts to expand its political footprint, the 52-year-old party chief said: "In the last eight years, the AAP has formed government thrice in Delhi. It has emerged as the main opposition party in Punjab. But today, I want to make an important announcement... the party will contest the state elections in Uttar Pradesh in 2022."

"Today, people in UP are forced to come to Delhi for basic facilities like health and education. Can the biggest state in India not become the most developed state too?" he added while addressing a virtual media briefing as he slammed the Yogi Adityanath government.

"UP's dirty politics and corrupt leaders and blocking the state's development. Locals have given a chance to all the parties. But every government has set new records of corruption," Mr Kejriwal added.

Mr Kejriwal, whose AAP prides itself on the work done in education and health sector in the national capital, drew comparisons between Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.

"If government hospitals in Delhi can improve, people here can get free electricity 24*7, why can't the same happen in UP? Why don't the schools in neighbouring state meet standards when Delhi's government schools can set the benchmark? For women's safety, we've installed CCTVs everywhere but crimes against women continue to rise in UP," he said.